MSPSP League Game #2 vs. Northville Rush (Tie 2-2)

(Catching up on my posts, sorry I was out of town on business following this game)

This was a pretty well played game on both sides, though we pulled our control together in the second half. Our first half play was mixed. We were communicating well as a team, but our first touch plagued us for much of the first 40 minutes. I attribute this to our poor effort in the warm-up. As the old saying goes, "You will play the way you practice"...and in this case I would say that applies to how you warm up. Mental focus and preparation for competition is just as important as physical preparation.

Our first goal was scored by Hannah Rhoades before the half on a perfectly placed ball in the upper 90 of the goal. The keeper had no chance. Kara Birrell played the ball to Hannah on a nice wide lead pass just outside the 18...and the strike was right on. Our second goal came from a great second effort by Alyssa Bolling, who was playing striker, when she harrassed the opposing sweeper and stripped the ball. A nice strike on the ground and the keeper was beat. We had a third goal called back...that would have been scored by Hannah Huff on a PK. The assistant referee displayed an uncanny knowledge and attention to the game and caught a player encroaching into the penalty arc before the ball was struck...negating the score. A tough lesson learned that I think no player will ever forget.

Northville scored their first goal on mis-marking by us on a free kick. Players in the wall have to have the inside run closed off and after the ball is struck...keep the inside in order to be first to the ball for the clear. The ball was struck and no one in our wall moved...putting the keeper in a 2-on-1 situation.

Northville's 2nd goal was a heartbreaker...and very hard to swallow since the player was clearly 10 yards offside. Unfortunately, the assistant referee was 15 yards out of position and unable to make the call.

Erin Castillo played well in net, as Katie was out sick. Erin made a lot of great saves and distributed the ball well, mixing things up with a combination of punts and controlled restarts (throws and rolls) to open players.

Better preparation and focus before games...coupled with completion of simple passes...will be the keys to improvement for the season. It is difficult to focus on strategy when these types of things are taking us 40 minutes to get under control. I have confidence in the girls...and challenge them to address these items for future games.